Chapter 2: Wolves
But the day's excitement wasn't over yet.
The talking went on for a long time, but eventually people began drifting back to their homes. Youngest could hardly keep his eyes open as he stumbled sleepily home with his mother and sister. Youngest didn't have a bed - he had a couple of cosy goat skins to wrap himself up in on the ground. He rolled himself up in one of them and curled up in his corner of the hut. White Tail lay down beside him. Moments later they were fast asleep.
But suddenly, all was confusion. There was a lot of shouting. Youngest peered sleepily out of his corner. By the light of the moon, he could see Father and First Son rising and throwing off their goat skins. Then they grabbed their axes. White Tail and Black Spot were ready for action too.
"Youngest, are you awake?" asked Father.
"Yes, of course!" cried Youngest, leaping up at once. Did Father want him to come too? Youngest hoped so.
"Good. Then take your axe and guard the Birth-givers again until we return," and with that Father, First Son and the dogs were gone.
"But Father!" Youngest called out after him. "Can't I come too?"
"Aren't we worth protecting!" smiled Mother, sensing his sharp disappointment.
"Oh, of course, I didn't mean that," gushed Youngest, ashamed. "I ... I wanted to go with the Hunters."
"I know, I know," soothed Mother. "But when you are a Hunter, you face many dangers. Tonight the Hunters are gone to fight with hungry wolves which have smelt the dead bear and goats in the cave. It will be a hard fight. Don't be in a hurry to face wild animals, Youngest."
"No, Mother," muttered Youngest. Huh, he thought, as he stationed himself by the door with his axe. Birth-givers just don't understand. It would be brilliant to be a Hunter. Hunters weren't scared of anything.
Youngest listened to the shouts of the Hunters. He heard the dogs barking and the wolves howling. It sounded like a fierce fight. He tried to imagine taking part in it. He slashed an imaginary wolf with his axe and wrestled another one to the floor.
But gradually the noise faded and the Hunters came back. Youngest saw that several of them were helping one Hunter to walk. So it had been a vicious fight. For a moment he felt anxious, but then he saw Father and First Son approaching.
"They're back, Mother!" he called. Mother rushed thankfully to the door to welcome the men home.
"First Son did really well and helped kill two of the wolves!" declared Father proudly. First Son glowed with pride.
"Two!" shouted Youngest, enviously. "You're clever! I wish I was a Hunter like you!" And he really did. He wanted to make Father proud too.
First Son smiled happily. "Huh, it was easy!" he boasted.
"Tell me, tell me!" begged Youngest, but suddenly he stopped jumping around in excitement. Where was White Tail? Usually, he came bounding in and licked Youngest when he got back from hunting.
"Father?" Youngest turned to the tall, strong Hunter. Father knew what Youngest was about to ask. He knew just what great friends his youngest son and his oldest dog were. He knelt down beside his son and put an arm around him.
"Don't worry!" he smiled. "White Tail is coming. It was a hard fight and White Tail is an old dog now. After a day's hunting, and a night's fighting, he's weary - like the rest of us! And he certainly fought hard. He saved me tonight. A wolf was dragging away one of the goats so I tackled it. But another wolf jumped onto me. The first one turned on me as well. I was hacking and kicking but I'm not sure I could have managed to deal with both of them. They were ferocious. And that's when White Tail came to my rescue. He leapt in and killed one wolf straight away. He tore its throat right out. The other wolf turned on him but I killed it. White Tail is a good dog. Look here he comes now!"
Youngest sighed with relief at the sight of his old friend. He darted out to welcome the limping dog with a hug. White Tail was panting hard. Youngest grabbed one of Mother's clay pots and rushed down to the river to scoop up some cooling water for the tired animal.
When he got back, he found Mother fussing around Father. "Bring the water here," ordered Mother sharply. "Father is hurt. Quickly, I must clean the wound or it will go bad."
For a moment, just for a moment, Youngest wanted to say that the water was for White Tail who was old and tired. Hazel Eyes, his sister, could go and fetch some more water for Father. But just then a shaft of moonlight fell on Father's wound and Youngest saw the dreadful gash. Poor Father! He felt guilty at once and handed the water over straight away. He knew that Mother was right. Hunters sometimes died of wounds that became infected.
"Hazel Eyes, run to the Healer Man for some of his willow bark poultice. Here, take him this bowl of berries. First Son, are you hurt too?" Mother asked anxiously.
"No, I'm fine." First Son sat down wearily. "Poor old White Tail." he said to Youngest. "He's as old as I am, you know, and that's old for a dog." Youngest was surprised at his brother's kindness.
"Yes, I'll go and fetch some water for him now," replied Youngest.
"Father said we'll get another puppy which can be yours," First Son went on. "Cow Keeper's bitch will have pups soon. Father's already asked him for one."
Youngest felt another pang of guilt. His Father had thought to ask for another dog for him when he was tired and injured after fighting against wolves. And Youngest hadn't wanted to let him have the water he'd fetched. However much he had loved White Tail, he loved Father much, much more.
He crept over beside Father. He was horrified to see how badly Father had been bitten. His left forearm was torn and bleeding.
"Father, I'm sorry you got hurt," he whispered.
Father's eyes twinkled. "There's my brave Hunter! Mother has told me how you stayed by that door with your axe to guard them. I'd have pitied any wolf that tried to get past you! Now go and get that poor old dog of ours some water quickly. I'll be fine."
Youngest dashed off once again. While Mother coated Father's wound with some of the strange smelling mixture Hazel Eyes had brought back from Healer Man, Youngest made a nest for White Tail next to his own sleeping place. He spread one skin out for White Tail. He gave him a long drink of water and then the two friends settled down for the night.